Did you even see the fucking news?
Yeah, I try to take the corporate news with a pinch of salt. Idiotic to take the military-royalty-and-power-adoring BBC (for example) at face value.
Not one international country (excluding Russia) recognised the take over. It was unconstitutional, and it was not recognised.
Yeah, it was disputed of course. I don’t doubt there were some shenanigans. But:
The results of the survey by the Broadcasting Board of Governors, conducted 21–29 April 2014, showed that 83% of Crimeans felt that the results of the March 16 referendum on Crimea’s status likely reflected the views of most people there. Whereas, this view is shared only by 30% in the rest of Ukraine.[140]
According to the Gallup's survey performed on 21–27 April, 82.8% of Crimean people consider the referendum results reflecting most Crimeans’ views,[141] and 73.9% of Crimeans say Crimea’s becoming part of Russia will make life better for themselves and their families, just 5.5% disagree.[141]
According to survey carried out by Pew Research Center in April 2014, majority of Crimean residents say the referendum was free and fair (91%) and that the government in Kyiv ought to recognize the results of the vote (88%).[142]
A poll of the Crimean public was taken by the Ukrainian branch of Germany's biggest market research organization, GfK, on 16–22 January 2015. According to its results: "Eighty-two percent of those polled said they fully supported Crimea's inclusion in Russia, and another 11 percent expressed partial support. Only 4 percent spoke out against it. ... Fifty-one percent reported their well-being had improved in the past year."[143]
Who knows the truth, but only a fool trusts our state propaganda.
Yes, it is. My point is that it's creating more un-necessary tensions and problems.
By annoying the most bellicose and aggressive country in the world?
It doesn't matter if the USA (who are our biggest, closest and most powerful ally which is something you seem to be forgetting)
Fuck ‘em.
Yes, and at the same time lose a portion of our GDP,
Yep. We’re supporting the most repressive country in the world, which created most of the terrorism we face, which is probably arming ISIS and which is reducing Yemen to rubble, in order to make money. And you question my morals?
cause un-necessary diplomatic problems which would take decades to solve, lose a large portion of our oil supply,
Oh dear.
They're ISIS. They have no head quarters, they are not a nation, they have no borders, they do not exist on a map, they have no government, they have no constitution, they refuse to follow human rights, they are not a member of the UN, they have no negotiators.
So what?
How the fuck do you think we can stop a terrorist organisation which lives in the shadows, with constantly changing borders, with un-named fighters?
Stop supporting those that arm them? Stop reducing places like Iraq and Libya to moonscapes so we can steal their oil?
And to funnel billions into the international arms trade.It's a necessary fact of life, or do you want us to lose even more money?
It all comes down to money, doesn’t it?
How do you suggest we re-train the hundreds of thousands of soldiers?
Not hard. Public works programmes.
Who pays for it all?
Panama.
And the thousands of mechanics, where do they work?
God yes, think of the poor mechanics.
Are you saying that protecting an entire country and the innocent people in other countries is not meaningful?
I’m saying that this ‘protection’ is total bullshit. It’s a racket.
Get back to work peasantSo whilst defending the poor (which I am not, nor am I insanely wealthy) you insult them as well? Great morals.
I’m saying this is the message of the news, and of the government.